PITTSBURGH — Fourteen years ago, the NFL adopted the quarterback radio helmet. Now, it’s defenses that are going high tech.

Since 1994, coaches have been able to strategize with their quarterbacks and call plays through a special communication device inside the QB’s helmet.

Now, the helmet of a defensive player will be equipped with the same radio transmitter.

For the Steelers, who host the Houston Texans today at Heinz Field, inside linebacker James Farrior is the defender who’ll wear a helmet with a radio device in it.

“I like it,” Farrior said. “I think it’s going to help the defense out, especially when we play offenses that start to go in hurry-up mode.

“We’ll still have our (hand) signals. We’ll probably use both. But for the start of the season, we’ll go with the (radio helmet).”

As the player who barks out the calls in the huddle to the rest of the Steelers’ defense, Farrior used to get those calls from defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and/or other assistant coaches stationed on the sideline.

But now, LeBeau and linebackers coach Keith Butler will call the plays in to Farrior via a radio transmitter.

“It’s the same as offense,” Farrior said. “It worked out well during the preseason games. ... I like it.”

Both the offensive transmitters and defensive devices go “live” immediately after the head official signals for the play clock to begin. The devices remain active until there are 15 seconds left on the clock, or the ball is snapped, whichever comes first.

After the “Spygate” affair involving Bill Belichick last year — the New England coach admitted that the Patriots occasionally videotaped defensive signals sent in from the sidelines — the NFL approved communication devices for defenses at its spring meetings in March.

For defenses, their radio helmet player will almost always be a three-down player, although each team is allowed to have a second defensive radio helmet stored in a sideline container.

Only one of those helmets can be on the field at a time.

For example, if Farrior’s equipment malfunctions or if he’s injured, then another Steeler defender can use the backup helmet. In all likelihood, that will probably be right inside linebacker Larry Foote.

Both offensive and defensive helmets with radio devices will be identified with a bright green dot.

Today, linebacker DeMeco Ryans will wear the Texans’ radio helmet.

For the Buffalo Bills, its middle linebacker Paul Posluszny, an ex-Hopewell High School and Penn State star.

“To have that short communication with the coach will help us and will make everything more clear,” Posluszny told NFL.com. “We won’t be fighting to make sure we can get the signal or see the signal. So to have that will make things way more efficient.”http://www.timesonline.com/articles/...e699585915.txt